Mirror frame

ABSTRACT

A mirror frame includes a mounting member and a supporting frame. The supporting frame comprises a pair of channel-shaped members connected by links. The mounting member encloses the mirror and includes downwardly extending flanges engageable in said channel-shaped members. The mounting member is wider than the supporting frame. A pair of resilient members are slideable on a horizontal ledge in the lower end of said mounting member and engage between said ledge and said frame member to hold the parts assembled.

United States Patent Mehl a a MIRROR FRAME 211 -Appl. NO-Z 40,629

52] us. c1.....-.... ...'40/1s2.1; 248/494 151 09: 1/12 [58] FieldofSearch .....4 o/1s2, 152.1. 156; 248/494 [56] Ream-c5 Cited" I UNITEDSTATES PArEms 2,900,750 I 8/1959 1 June 13, 1972 s7 ABSTRACT .A minorframe includes aimounting member and a supporting frame. ,Thesupportingframe comprises a pair of channelshaped members connected bylinks. The mounting member encloses the mirror includes downwardlyextending flanges engageable in "said channel-shaped members. Themounting member is wider than the supporting frame. A pair of resilientmembers are 'slideable on a horizontal ledge in the lower end of saidmounting member and engage between said ledge and said frame member tohold the parts assembled.

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- MIRROR FRAME This invention relates to an improvement in mirrorframes, and deals particularly with a structure for mounting a mirror onthe wall, which may be installed ina relatively short period of time,and which may be readily removed from the wall by authorized persons.

. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Mirrors are a necessary fixture in hotels,motels, public buildings and the like. With the tremendous increase inthe construction of motels in which the occupants may. enter and leaveat will, the theft of fixtures from rooms has materially increased.Unless the personnel operating such an establishment sees someoneactually in the act of removing fixtures from the room or apartment,it-is extremely difficult to prove that the persons occupying a motelroom or entering a public restroom have been responsible for the loss ofthe equipment. As a result, it has become necessary to secure suchfixtures in such a manner that they cannot be readily removed.

One of the fixtures which has been often removed from motel rooms andfrom public washrooms is the mirrors mounted upon the wall. If suchmirrors may be readily detached they can often be carried away withlittle danger of detection from the operating personnel. Once a mirrorhas been removed from the wall and placed in the trunk of an automobile,the loss is not detected until the room is prepared for thenextoccupant. By this time, the previous occupant may be miles away.Even though the owner of the motel or other establishment may beconvinced in his own mind that the mirror was removed bythe previousoccupant of the room, the theft cannot well be easilyproved due to thefact that others may have entered the room between the time of departureof the occupant and the time when the theft is discovered. One of themost effective ways of preventing theft is to secure the mirror orsimilar objects on the wall in such a manner that it is difficult toremove without the likelihood of breaking the mirror.

Various types of mirror supports have been provided which have beendesigned to prevent the theft thereof. However, such devices haveusually been very costly and difficult and expensive to install. Thereis obviously a limit to the expense which may be justified for theprevention of the theft of the mirror. In providing a theft-proof mirrorframe, it is necessary that the structure be relatively simple andinexpensive, and that the cost of installation may be reasonable.Difficulty is experienced in meeting these requirements.

SUMMARY or INVENTION The present invention resides in the provision ofaminor frame, which may be provided in knocked down form, and which maybe quickly and easily assembled at the location where the mirror isused. The glass forming the mirror is usually readily available, andatthe sametime comprises the fragile or breakable element of thecombination. By providing a mirror frame formed of metal extrusion, cutto a pre-determined size and provided with mitered comers, an attractivemetal frame may be readily provided for a glass mirror of predeterminedshape. Incorporating a supporting frame designed for mounting upon awall, and by forming such a frame so that it may be contained in arelatively small package, the entire mirror frame, supporting frame,corner attachment members, glazing members, and, locks which make themirror theftproof, may be contained in a relatively small package, andmay be readily shipped, stored, and delivered so that the entire mirrormay be assembled and mounted in a short period of time. Once installed,the mirror is extremely difficult to remove without special knowledgeand without special equipment so that the loss of mirrors may be reducedto a minimum.

Afeature of the present invention resides in the provision of asupporting frame made with upper and lower extrusions designed tosupport the mirror frame, the ends of which are connected by a pair ofconnecting strips which are pivoted to the endsof the extrusions. Thesupporting frame is in the form while the frame may be of a considerableof a parallelgram and is made'so that the strips connecting theextrusions may fold into side by side relation to permit the supportingframe to fold into a very compact structure. Thus,

size, it may be conveniently packaged, stored and shipped.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision ofamirror frame including similarextrusions forming all sides of theframe, and'including inwardly directed channels into which-the marginaledges of the mirrormay be engaged. The frame is cut from elongatedstrips of the extrusion in such a manner that the sides of the frame mayfit together at the corners of the frame along diagonal mitered comers.The upper frame-member is provided with a flange which fits into a.groove in the upper extrusion of the supporting frame, and the lowerframe member *is-similarlyprovided with a flange which fits into agroove in the lower frame member. By lowering the mirror frame into theupper and lower extrusions of the supporting frame, themirror may besupported upon a wall.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision ofglazing wedges'formed of resilient plastic or similar material whicharedesigned to fit between the mirror frame extrusions and the mirror'panelto hold the mirror against the outer flange of the mirror frame. Thesewedges comprise short lengths of resilient material having spacedgrooves in the surface thereof which fitsagainst the glass, so

that the same wedges may be used for various thicknesses of mirrorglass.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision oflocking means designed to prevent removal of the mirror frame from itssupporting frameonce it is in'place thereupon. The theft guards compriseresilient members of plastic or.-similar material which may be easilymoved into locking position by insertion of a special wire tool betweenthe lower peripheral flange of th'e mirror frame and the undersurface ofthe supporting frame. When in place, these theft guards prevent themirror frame from being lifted out of engagement with its supportingframe, so that the mirror cannot be removed without tearing the entirestructure from the wall. At the same time, by inserting the wire toolbetween theinirror frame and the wall, and sliding thetheft guards frombeneath the supporting frame,'the mirror frame may be readily lifted outof engagement with the supporting frame for repair or replacement.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of asupporting frame whichautomatically squares up so that the sides andends are in right angular relation when the supporting frame is mountedupon the wall. The top and bottom extrusions, and the verticalconnecting strips, are so mounted that they may be readily pivoted tobring the connecting strips into-side by side collapsed relation when itis so desired, However, the frame is so constructed that when the frameis opened up, the top and bottom extrusions and connecting stripsautomatically square up'into right angular relation to properly supportthemirror frame when the supporting frame is mounted uponthe wall.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view ofthe mirror frame and its supporting frame as it would appear whenmounted upon a wall.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the structure position ofthe section being indicated by the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which thetheft guards may be inserted into or out of operative position.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the supporting frame when squared up.

FIG. 5 shows the supporting frame in collapsed position. FIG. 6 is asectional view on the line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one of the glazing wedges.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one of the theft guards.

The mirror frame A which is indicated best in FIGS. 1 and 2 of thedrawings, is supported by a supporting frame indicated by letter B, thebest shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings. The supporting frame Bincludes a top extrusion 10, a bottom extrusion 11, and a pair ofconnecting strips 12 and 13 which are pivotally connected to the top andbottom extrusions. As is best indicated in FIG. 6 of the drawings, thetop extrusion includes a vertical mounting flange 14 which is designedto fit against a wall C, and which is provided with rearwardlyprojecting ribs 15 which are designed to engage the wall C and toconform to the contour thereof. A horizontally extending flange 16 isprovided on the upper edge of the vertical mounting flange 14, andinwardly inclined flanges l7 and 18 extend upwardly from the horizontalflange 16. The outermost flange 17 is connected to the outer extremitiesof the horizontal flange 16 which the inner flange 18 is spacedtherefrom a distance sufficient to accommodate a portion of the mirrorframe therebetween. A rearwardly extending horizontal flange 19 isprovided on the upper end of the inner inclined flange 18 of theextrusion l0 and engages the surface of the wall C.

The lower extrusion 11 also includes a mounting flange 20 havingvertically spaced ribs 21 which are designed to engage the surface ofthe wall C. A horizontally extending flange 22 extends outwardly fromthe lower edge of the mounting flange 20, and supports agenerallychannel-shaped support including an inner flange 23, an outwardlyextending bottom flange 24, and an outer flange 25. A generallyrectangular space is provided between the channel sides 23 and 25 toengage the mirror frame. As will be noted from FIG. 6 of the drawingsthe flanges l7 and 18 incline upwardly and inwardly toward the wall C.In the same manner, the flanges 23 and 25 of the lower extrusion 11 alsoextend upwardly and inwardly toward the surface of the wall C. Thepurpose of this arrangement is to wedge the upper and lower framemembers of the mirror frame in the channels so that these members arefirmly fixed in position.

lt will be noted that pivots 26 pivotally connect the upper ends of thesupporting frame connecting strips 12 and 13 to the upper extrusion 10.In a similar manner pivots 28 connect the lower ends of the frameconnecting strips 12 and 13 to the bottom extrusion mounting flange 20.The upper inner comer 27 of the frame strip 12 is rounded coaxially withthe adjoining pivot 26, and the outer corner of the lower edge of theframe strip 12 is rounded. The surface of the rounded corner isconcentric with the axis of the adjoining pivot 28 connecting the frameside 12 to the bottom extrusion 11. In a similar manner, the outer andupper corner 29 of the frame strip 13 is rounded about the axis of theadjoining pivot 26, and the frame strip 13 is rounded at the inner andlower corner as indicated at 30, which is concentric with the adjacentone of the lower pivots 26. The purpose of this entire arrangement is toenable the supporting frame B to be pivoted from the rectangularposition shown in FIG. 2 to the collapsed position shown in FIG. 5.While the use of collapsing frame members may not in itself be novel, itis believed to be of particular advantage in the particular combinationas the frame B cannot be folded past rectangular position when openedup.

The outer mirror frame, which is indicated in general by the letter A,is best shown in section in FIG. 2 ofthe drawings. The frame comprisesfour sections of extruded metal of similar rather complicated form. Eachframe member includes a peripheral flange 31 which is designed to extendin substantially right angular relation to the surface of the wall C.The members forming the mirror frame also include a forward or frontflange 32 which is in right angular relation to the peripheral flangeand parallel to the surface of the wall C, and which is designed toenclose the forward marginal edge portion of the mirror as will be laterdescribed. A thickened reinforcing portion 33 is usually providedinwardly of the front flange 32 to support a vertical flange 34 which isparallel to, and spaced from, the front flange 32. The mirror panel 35or other supported member has its marginal peripheral edge between theflanges 34 and 32 when the frame is assembled. It should be understoodthat the similar extrusions forming the frame A include mitered comerswhich are indicated diagrammatically by diagonal lines, the corners ofthe front flange 31, as well as the inner flanges of the extrusionscontacting along these diagonal cut lines to form, the rectangularframe. The inner edges of the inner flanges 34 which lie rearwardly ofthe mirror panel 35 include rearly extending short flanges 36 whichconnect the inner flange 34 to a parallel flange 37 which extends towardthe peripheral flange 31 in parallel relation to the flanges 32 and 34,and a co-planer flange 38 which extends toward the center of the frame.These opposed flanges 37 and 38 are of importance in connecting theouter mirror frame A to the supporting frame B.

As is shown in the lower end of FIG. 2 of the drawings, the lower framemember flange 37 extends into the channel between the flanges 23 and 25of the supporting frame B. As is indicated in the upper portion of FIG.2, the flange 38 of the upper frame member of the mirror supportingframe extends into the groove provided between the flanges l7 and 18 ofthe upper extrusion 10. Thus, by engaging the flanges 37 and 38 into thechannels formed by the lower and upper extrusions 11 and 10 of thesupporting frame, the mirror is effectively supported to the wall. As isindicated in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the upper extrusions l0 and lowerextrusion 11 are connected to the wall C by screws 40 or other suitablemeans such as expansion bolts or the like.

Before the mirror 35 and its supporting frame A are attached to theframe B, glazing strips 41 of the type illustrated in FIG. 7 of thedrawings are inserted between the the mirror panel 34 and the flange 37of the frame which extends toward the center of the mirror. The glazingstrips 41 include a flange 42 equipped with tapered parallel ribs 43which engage the rear surface of the mirror panel 34. The ribs 43 mayflex due to the flexible nature of the glazing strips 41 so as toaccommodate various thicknesses of mirror panels 35. Furthermore, theglazing strips are provided with a right angularly projecting flange 44which limits the insertion of these glazing strips between the mirror 35and the various flanges 38.

In usual practice a glazing strip 41 is provided near each corner of themirror frame, (see FIG. 1) and additional such strips may be placed atintervals about the periphery of the frame, depending upon the size ofthe frame. It will be understood that the mitered corners of the frame Aare held in proper right angular relation by angular corner members 45which are attached to the thickened area 32 of the frame members bymetal screws 46 or other suitable means.

From the foregoing description, it should be clear that the outer frameA serves as a support for the mirror panel 35, and entirely encirclesthe same so that the edges of the mirror frame are protected. It willalso be noted that when the outer mirror frame is lowered into thechannels formed in the upper and lower supporting frame extrusions 10and 11, the mirror will be adequately supported. However, additionalmeans are provided for locking the mirror frame upon its supportingframe, such locking means being best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8 of thedrawings.

The locking members used to hold the two frames assembled are preferablyformed of resilient plastic or similar means which is sufficientlyflexible to properly frictionally engage in place. It should further benoted that the locking members are engaged between the supporting frameB and lower peripheral flange 31 of the mirror supporting frame A as isindicated near the lower right hand side of FIG. 1 of the drawings. Thelocking members 50 include upwardly bowed strips 51 having at theiropposite ends opposed hooked shaped flanges 52 and 53. The height of thelocking means is sufficient so that once these locking means are inplace between the supporting frame B and outer frame A, the mirrorcannot be lifted out of engagement with the supporting frame. Arectangular loop 54 is cast integrally with one end of the locking means50 for assisting in the insertion and removal of these locking means.

The upwardly bowed strip 51 is usually flexed downwardly when thelocking means are inserted, and are normally under some compression whenin place. While the strip 51 is bendable, the hook ends 52 and 53 arerelatively solid due to the thickness thereof, and will not compress tothe extent necessary to permit removal of the mirror frame when inlocking position.

The manner in which the locking means is used is perhaps bestillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings. Before the mirrorsupporting frame A is engaged with the supporting frame B, one suchlocking means 50 is placed upon the peripheral flange 31 of the mirrorframe extrusion near each of the lower corners thereof, with the loopends 54 toward the opposite sides of the ,frame, as indicated in FIG. 1of the drawings. After the mirror frame has been engaged upon thesupporting frame, a .wire tool 56 having an angular turned end 57 isinserted between the outer flange 31 of the mirror frame and the wall onwhich the supporting frame B is mounted. By moving the tool 56 to theleft as indicated by the arrow 59 in FIG. 3 of the drawings, thislocking lug 50 may be moved laterally between the lower extrusion ll ofthe supporting frame and the flange 31 of the mirror frame. Wheninserted, it is virtually impossible to remove the mirror frame from thesupporting frame. FIG. 1 of the drawings shows a locking means 50 to theright side of center which is engaged between the lower extrusion 11 andthe outer mirror frame 31. The locking means 50 which is to the left ofthe center has not as yet been inserted, but this may be done byengaging the hook end 57 of the tool 56 between the hook ends 52 and 53of this left hand locking means 50, and the locking means may be forced.into the position to prevent dis-engagement of the outer mirror framefrom the supporting frame. It will also be noted that in the event therepair or replacement of the mirror is necessary, this may beaccomplished by engaging the right angular end 57 of the wire tool 56 inthe loop 54 at the end of the locking means and drawing the lockingmeans towardthe adjacent vertical wall of the mirror frame. This actionis indicated by the arrow 60 in FIG. 3 of the drawings. While thelocking means maybe readily inserted and removed with the tool 56 by onefamiliar with the construction, the mirror is otherwise firmly attachedin place.

In accordance with the patent statutes, 1 have described the principlesof construction and operationof the mirror frame, and while I haveendeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to haveit understood that the changes may be made without departing from thespirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A mounting device including:

a supporting frame member including upper and lower generally horizontalframe members including upwardly opening channels,

means connecting the ends of said upper and lower frame members,

a mounting member including upper and lower parallel downwardly directedflanges engageable in said channels,

' said frame member being substantially narrower than mounting member,

the lower mounting member including a flange extending beneath, andparallel to, said flange mounted thereupon,

resilient means slideably supported between said flange and said lowerframe member for holding said mounting member and said frame member fromvertical relative movement when engaged therebetween.

I 2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said resilient means includesan enlarged end including said recess, said enlarged end limiting themovement of said resilient means beneath said frame member.

3. A frame mounting in combination with a rectangular mounting memberincluding a channel for supporting the edges of a mirror and the likeand including a pair of downwardly extending flanges on the parallelupper and lower mounting frame members thereof,

a supporting frame including a pair of vertically spaced upper and lowerframe members each including upwardly opening channels adapted toreceive said downwardly extending flanges of said frame mounting,

a horizontal flange connected to the lower of said mounting frameflanges and extending in spaced relation below the same,

said supporting frame being narrower than said mounting member,

a pair of resilient locking means slideably supported on said horizontalflange and slideable from a position beneath said supporting frame to aposition laterally thereof,

said resilient locking means being moveable from one position extendingbeneath said supporting frame to prevent vertical relative movement ofsaid mounting member and said supporting frame to another positionlaterally of said supporting frame in which said mounting member may belifted from said supportingframe.

4. The structure of claim 3 and in which said resilient locking meansinclude a recess for accommodating a means for moving said lockingmeans.

5. The structure of claim 3 and including a resilient means interposedbetween the mirror and said mounting frame including a resilient bodyincluding a plurality of parallel ribs engaging the rear of said mirror.

6. A mirror frame including:

a mirror having a pair of parallel frame extrusions secured thereto, theframe extrusions including downwardly directed flanges, v I

a wall mounted supporting frame including a pair of vertically spacedhorizontal members including upwardly directed channels in which saidflanges are engaged,

the lowermost of said vertically spaced horizontal members including anelongated substantially horizontal flange from which extendsubstantially parallel upwardly extending flanges forming the-upwardlydirected channel therebetween,

the lowermost of said frame extrusions including a generally horizontalflange spaced beneath said downwardly directed flanges thereon, and

removable means engageable between the substantially horizontal flangeof the lowermost of said frame members and said generally horizontalflange of the lowermost of said frame extrusions to hold said downwardlydirected flanges in said channels.

7. The structure of claim 6 and in which said removable means compriseresilient wedge means.

8. The structure of claim 7 and in which said vertically spacedhorizontal members are shorter than said parallel frame extrusions andsaid horizontal flange on said lowermost of said frame extrusions and inwhich said resilient wedge means may be moved laterally beyond thelowermost of said frame members to permit disengagement of said frameextrusions from said vertically spaced horizontal members.

9. The structure of claim 7 and in which said resilient wedge meansincludes a pair of vertical end flanges having an upwardly bowed stripstherebetween.

10. The structure of claim 6 and in which said removable means isslideably supported on said generally horizontal flange on saidlowermost of said frame extrusions.

11. The structure of claim 6 and in which said channels are inclined.

1. A mounting device including: a supporting frame member includingupper and lower generally horizontal frame members including upwardlyopening channels, means connecting the ends of said upper and lowerframe members, a mounting member including upper and lower paralleldownwardly directed flanges engageable in said channels, said framemember being substantially narrower than mounting member, the lowermounting member including a flange extending beneath, and parallel to,said flange mounted thereupon, resilient means slideably supportedbetween said flange and said lower frame member for holding saidmounting member and said frame member from vertical relative movementwhen engaged therebetween.
 2. The structure of claim 1 and in which saidresilient means includes an enlarged end including said recess, saidenlarged end limiting the movement of said resilient means beneath saidframe member.
 3. A frame mounting in combination with a rectangularmounting member including a channel for supporting the edges of a mirrorand the like and including a pair of downwardly extending flanges on theparallel upper and lower mounting frame members thereof, a supportingframe including a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower framemembers each including upwardly opening channels adapted to receive saiddownwardly extending flanges of said frame mounting, a horizontal flangeconnected to the lower of said mounting frame flanges and extending inspaced relation below the same, said supporting frame being narrowerthan said mounting member, a pair of resilient locking means slideablysupported on said horizontal flange and slideable from a positionbeneath said supporting frame to a position laterally thereof, saidresilient locking means being moveable from one position extendingbeneath said supporting frame to prevent vertical relative movement ofsaid mounting member and said supporting frame to another positionlaterally of said supporting frame in which said mounting member may belifted from said supporting frame.
 4. The structure of claim 3 and inwhich said resilient locking means include a recess for accommodating ameans for moving said locking means.
 5. The structure of claim 3 andincluding a resilient means interposed between the mirror and saidmounting frame including a resilient body including a plurality ofparallel ribs engaging the rear of said mirror.
 6. A mirror frameincluding: a mirror having a pair of parallel frame extrusions securedthereto, the frame extrusions including downwardly directed flanges, awall mounted supporting frame including a pair of vertically spacedhorizontal members including upwardly directed channels in which saidflanges are engaged, the lowermost of said vertically spaced horizontalmembers including an elongated substantially horizontal flange fromwhich extend substantially parallel upwardly extending flanges formingthe upwardly directed channel therebetween, the lowermost of said frameextrusions including a generally horizontal flange spaced beneath saiddownwardly directed flanges thereon, and removable means engageablebetween the substantially horizontal flange of the lowermost of saidframe members and said generally horizontal flange of the lowermost ofsaid frame extrusions to hold said downwardly directed flanges in saidchannels.
 7. The structure of claIm 6 and in which said removable meanscomprise resilient wedge means.
 8. The structure of claim 7 and in whichsaid vertically spaced horizontal members are shorter than said parallelframe extrusions and said horizontal flange on said lowermost of saidframe extrusions and in which said resilient wedge means may be movedlaterally beyond the lowermost of said frame members to permitdisengagement of said frame extrusions from said vertically spacedhorizontal members.
 9. The structure of claim 7 and in which saidresilient wedge means includes a pair of vertical end flanges having anupwardly bowed strips therebetween.
 10. The structure of claim 6 and inwhich said removable means is slideably supported on said generallyhorizontal flange on said lowermost of said frame extrusions.
 11. Thestructure of claim 6 and in which said channels are inclined.